Thanksgiving 2025 has brought us an unexpected controversy, and it’s not about turkey preparation methods or whether stuffing should be cooked inside the bird. This year, everyone on #BlackTikTok is discussing the viral video from creator @contentwithcee, who opened her now-infamous clip with a bold declaration: “And if there’s no lit mashed potatoes on the table at your Thanksgiving dinner, please don’t invite me.” The video shows her casually pouring Patrón tequila into her instant mashed potatoes, completely replacing the water the recipe calls for with premium alcohol. From there, the recipe quickly went left, and had viewers quite shocked.

Takeaways New Hide ▲

Alcohol-infused mashed potatoes

spark debate on

adult twists for

holiday entertaining

Traditional Thanksgiving comfort

foods foster warmth

and unity around

the dinner table

Transparent labeling ensures

everyone at home

feels included and

respected during gatherings

Provide both classic

and 'lit' options

to accommodate diverse

holiday entertaining tastes

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The video has racked up thousands of comments and spawned countless duets and response videos, with many the viewers having harsh yet comical reactions. Honestly, this recipe caught me, a food-lover and very open-minded person, off guard as well.

However, personally, I don’t want to be anywhere near a Thanksgiving table where the mashed potatoes are “lit” with alcohol. Thanksgiving is definitely not the time to be experimenting with the classics, especially when you’re potentially serving children, elderly relatives, people in recovery, or guests who simply don’t drink.

It’s okay to have just regular fixings. You can save the Patrón for before or after dinner, where it belongs—in a glass, not mixed into a side dish that’s supposed to be universally enjoyed by everyone at the table.

@contentwithcee

What’s a thanksgiving dinner without LIT mash potatoes?! #thanksgiving#foodtok#fyp

♬ Everyday We Lit (feat. PnB Rock) – YFN Lucci

The Case for Keeping It Traditional

Beyond the obvious concerns about serving alcohol-infused food to mixed company, there’s something to be said for respecting the integrity of Thanksgiving classics. Mashed potatoes are a comfort food for a reason—they’re creamy, rich, and pair perfectly with gravy. They don’t need to be reinvented, especially not with an ingredient that fundamentally alters their taste and purpose. When you show up to Thanksgiving dinner, you’re expecting certain flavors and textures that have been perfected over generations. Throwing tequila into the mix isn’t innovative; it’s unnecessarily disruptive to a meal that’s meant to bring people together, not divide them over whether the sides are spiked.

There’s also the practical matter of disclosure. If someone brings “lit mashed potatoes” to a Thanksgiving gathering, are they clearly labeling them as containing alcohol? Are they warning guests before they load up their plates? What about designated drivers, pregnant women, or people who don’t consume alcohol for religious reasons? The lack of consideration for these very real concerns makes this trend feel more like a social media stunt than a legitimate recipe innovation. Thanksgiving should be inclusive and welcoming, and secretly spiking communal dishes works against that spirit entirely.

Additionally, the cooking process matters. When you cook with alcohol, it typically burns off most—but not all—of the alcohol content. But when you’re making instant mashed potatoes and simply replacing the water with Patrón, it never gets heated to the point of burning off the alcohol; you’re essentially serving mashed potatoes with the full alcohol content intact. That’s not a flavor enhancement; that’s potentially serving a significant amount of tequila to unsuspecting dinner guests. The whole concept feels less like an overkill.

Finding Middle Ground

As we head into Thanksgiving, perhaps the real lesson isn’t about whether Patrón belongs in mashed potatoes, but about making sure everyone at your table feels welcome and accommodated. Whether you’re team traditional or team experimental, the goal is the same: bringing people together over good food and gratitude. And if that means having both regular and “lit” options available, well, that’s the spirit of abundance that Thanksgiving is all about. Just maybe put up a little sign so people know which bowl is which.